Thermal analysis comparison between three random glass fibre-reinforced thermoplastic matrix composites bonded by adhesives using microwaves

Abstract

[Abstract]: This paper compares the thermal analysis of three types of random glass fibre reinforced thermoplastic matrix composites joined by adhesives using microwave energy. Fixed frequency, 2.45 GHz, microwave facility is used to join thirty three percent by weight random glass fibre reinforced nylon 66 {Nylon 66/GF (33%0}, thirty three percent by weight random glass fibre reinforced low density polyethylene composite [LDPE/GF (33%0)] and. thirty three percent by weight random glass fibre reinforced polystyrene composite [PS/GF (33%)]. The facility used is shown in Figure 1. With a given power level, the composites were exposed to various exposure times to microwave irradiation. The primer or coupling agent used was 5-minute two-part adhesive. The heat distribution of the samples of the three types of composites was analysed and compared. The relationship between the heat distribution and the lap shear strength of the samples was also compared and discussed.